Robinho's future is back up in the air after he announced tonight that he had turned down firm offers to move to Besiktas and Fenerbahce. Instead, the Brazilian has decided to take a calculated gamble and hope that a team from Spain or Italy comes in for him before the transfer window closes.

The most expensive player in English football, currently training alone at Manchester City after making it clear he does not want to stay there, is hoping that his form at the World Cup and the possibility of a cut-price deal will alert a Milan or a Barcelona.

His pronouncement represents bad news for City, who had been scheduled to have talks with Fenerbahce tomorrow and have only a week to find an alternative buyer.

Besiktas have already made a £16m offer for the former Real Madrid forward although, since then, City have raised doubts about whether that money is actually available to the Istanbul club. In any case, Robinho says he is not keen on Turkey.

"With all due respect to Turkish football, I'm not going to play there right now," Robinho said. "Fenerbahce have sent me an official proposal, but I already decided that I will not take it up. There are other conversations going on and a week gives me a lot of time yet. The only thing I can say for certain is that I will continue in Europe, either in Italy or Spain."